Die casting machine



Feb. 26, 1963 R. K. SUNDAY ETAL DIE CASTING MACHINE Filed July 20, 1959 Feb. 26, 1963 R. K. SUNDAY ETAL 3,078,528

DIE CASTING MACHINE Feb. 26, 1963 R. K. SUNDAY ETAL 3,078,528

DIE CASTINGl MACHINE Filed July 20, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 26, 1963 R. K. SUNDAY ETAL 3,078,528

DIE CASTING MACHINE Filed July 20, 1959 4 sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent Oilce 3,078,528 Patented Feb. 26, 1963 3,078,528 DIE CASTING MACHINE Richard K. Sunday, Kokomo, and Bartlett B. Van Dolsen, Robert I. Moore, and Floyd R. Jennings, Indianapolis, Ind., assignors to Perfect Equipment Corp., Kokomo,

Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed July 20, 1959. Ser. No. 828,180 6 Claims. (Cl. 22-68) This invention relates generally to die casting machines and in particular to a new and improved method of and machine for casting lead wheel weights or other objects.

Accordingly, a primary object of the invention is to provide a new and improved automatic die casting machine for lead wheel weights and other composite articles.

Another object is to provide a die casting machine having an improved insert feeding mechanism including a mechanical escapement.

Another object is to provide a die casting machine having a magnetic, removable insert placement mechanism for positioning a metallic insert in the die cavity.

Another object is to provide a die casting machine having a safety mechanism which prevents injection of molten metal unless an insert is properly oriented in the mold cavity.

Another object is to provide a die casting machine having an adjustable toggle joint mechanism with limiting abutments to prevent movement of the main mold locking cams beyond predetermined limits.

Another object is to provide a die casting machine including a fluid actuated knockout mechanism.

Yet another object is to provide a die casting machine having a swinging pump assembly whereby the injection nozzle is backed away from the dies after each shot to prevent excess die heating and to accelerate hardening of the casting.

Still another object is to provide a new and approved nozzle structure including a heater within the nozzle extending along the injection passage to thereby prevent metal freeze-up between shots.

Another object is to provide an insert booster mech.

anism automatically operable in coordination with the clip feeding mechanism to aid delivery of an insert to the die cavity.

Another object is to provide a control system for die casting machines which automatically coordinates operation of the aforementioned sub-assemblies and prevents injection unless a clip is properly oriented in the die cavity.

Other objects will appear from time to time throughout the course of the specification and claims.

The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a partial, perspective view of the machine with the dies in the open position;

FIGURE 2 is an elevation of the invention with parts omitted for clarity;

FIGURE 3 is a view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIGURE l;

Frame Structure The frame is illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2 and 4. A base plate 19, which may be merely a rectangular framework, is supported on legs 11 securely fastened to the floor (not shown). Back plate 12 is mounted tlush with the rear of the base plate and has a knockout recess 13 in its lower center portion. A pair of side plates 14 and 15 are secured to supporting angles 16 which in turn are bolted to base plate 10. A cross plate 17 is bolted to the base plate 10 to support the toggle mechanism, and a rigid cross brace 18 furnishes additional support for the die mechanism.

Die Assembly The die assembly is illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 4 and consists essentially of left and right rear dies or back jaws 20 and 21 having channels 22 in their lower surfaces so as to slide transversely to the longitudinal axis of the frame along adjusting blocks or guide rails 23, 24, 25 and 26|. The adjusting blocks are bolted to inclined guide block 27 which in turn is mounted on base plate 10 and back plate 12, shown best in FIGURE 2. An aperture 28 is formed near the center of the inclined guide block for the reception of the pump nozzle as best seen in FIGURES 1 and 3.

Front die 30 is secured to a die block 31 mounted on carriage 36 which slides along a pair of convex slide ways 32 and 33. The front die is inclined as best seen in FIG- URE 2 and secured to the block by bolt 34 positioned in a center recess 35. The block is secured to the transversely extending carriage 36 which terminates in end portions 37 and 38 which form a platform` for a pair of wing plates to be described hereinafter. A pair of concave slideways 39 and 40 are Vsecured to the outer edges of the carriage block or formed integrally with the positioning cams, and mate with the cam slideways 32 and 33 which in turn are scured to the side plates 14 and 15.

Each of the positioning cams 4l, 42 includes a camming groove or channel 41a and 42a which receive die cam followers, (not shown), secured to the extremities of the rear dies. The cams pass through apertures 43 in the rear plate when the dies are in casting engagement. For further detail of the die structure and its operation, reference may be had to co-pending application Serial No. 738,527, filed March 28, 1958, now Patent No. 2,995,- 788, granted August 15, 1961.

Toggle Mechanism The dies are moved into engagement by a toggle mechanism illustrated best in FIGURES l, 2 and 4. The toggle mechanism includes a rear cylinder mounting plate 50 bolted to the back edge of the base plate, which, in cooperation with the cross plate 17, supports a power cylinder 51 secured to the frame of the machine by collars 5-2 and 53. Power connections 54 and 55 actuate an internal piston 56 including an extension or abutment shaft 57 which limits the travel of the piston and prevents collapsing movement of the locking cams as will be described hereafter.

A pair of inverted L-shaped mold locking cams 58 and S9 maintain the dies in engagement during injection. The short legs of the cams are pivoted to mounting brackets 60 and 61 secured to the lower rear surface of the carriage block as best seen in FIGURES 1-4. A cross piece 62 extends outwardly from the piston rod and a pair of toggle arms 63 and 64 are pivotally connected to the ends of the cross piece and mid portions of the mold locking cams. Each cam includes a surface 58a, 59a which slides along the inside surface of toggle slide blocks l66 and 67. Each toggleV slide block is recessed at its inner edge as at 68 and 69 and cam rollers 70 and y71 are rotatablyv channeled in the recesses. As the locking cams reach their extended position in which the sliding surfaces 58a and 59a pass the cam rollers, toggle arms 63 and 64 rotate the locking cams outwardly about pivots 69u and 61a and the curved end surfaces 72 and 73 slide along the cam rollers. Shaft extension 57 exerts a secondary pressure on the carriage block when the dies are in engagement as best seen in FIGURE 4. Safety dogs 74, 75 at the junction of the cam legs impinge upon the rear mounting brackets to prevent back rotation of the locking cams if the shaft extension is not in engagement with the carriage block. A pair of toggle adjusting blocks 76, 77 are secured to the cross plate 17 and adjusting bolts 78, 79 engage the slide blocks 66, 67 to position them in the direction of mold travel. The slide blocks may be bolted through slots to the cross plate 1'7.

Knockout A pneumatic knockout mechanism is illustrated in Y FIGURES 1 and 2 and includes essentially an air cylinder 39 having inlet and outlet power connections S1, S2 and a mounting base S3. The base is bo-lted to a base block S4 secured to the inclined rear plate 27. The base block is apertured to receive knockout arm 85 which extends outwardly and downwardly from the cylinder to eject the solidified sprue left in its cast position when the dies separate. It will be understood that the die structure illustrated in the aforementioned application may be utilized in this machine in which event the opening of the dies automatically shears the sprue.

Insert F ceding An insert feeding mechanism is illustrated in FlGURE-S 1, 2, 3, and 6. A storage container 96 is positioned to one side of the machine by any suitable mounting stucture. A delivery slide 91 bolted to mounting bracket 92, which in turn is secured to a support plate 93, forms an inclined path between the container and the mold cavity area. The mounting bracket and plate are secured to side plate 15 in this instance. Any suitable container and sorting mechanism may be utilized with the invention. A vibratory feeder which presents clips in a properly oriented position to the feeding chute 94 may be utilized for example.

ln FIGURE 7, the insert escapement mechanism is illustrated in detal. An escapement 95 having legs 96 and 97 is pivoted at 93 and intermittently stops and releases the individual inserts 99. The escapement is operated by suitable piston 1116 reciprocable in air cylinder 101' mounted on a side frame 182. Frame 162 has been bolted to mounting bracket $2. The clip slide 91 extends between the terminal end of the feeding chute 94 and the cavity area. A shield or spring 11M which generally allows the contour of the slide 91 prevents the inserts from humping up if a back pressure is asserted on them. An air nozzle, indicated diagrammatically at 103, furnishes a booster blast of air to push the clips along the slide after the escapement operates. The air jet may be automatically tied into operation of the escapement for continuous or intermittent operation, or it may be manually operated.

The final placement mechanism is illustrated best in FIGURES 2, 5 and 6 and includes a swinging bar 110 pivoted about swinging post 111 secured to post mounting block 112. A U-shaped locking dog 113 slips into -a reduced portion 114 (FIGURE 2) of locking post 115 on the opposite side of the machine. Clamp 116 is rotated by handle 117 to firmly secure the swinging bar during operation.

A pair of L-s-haped mounting brackets 11S, 119 having their short legs positioned above the swinging bar are bolted to the mid portion of the bar. Base block 120 is bolted to the swinging bar and provides a t-rack for a slidable clip placement mechanism best illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6.

The slidable placement mechanism includes a stationary frame comprising slide plate 120e having upper and lower slides 121, 122 and triangular shaped end plates 123 and 124. Securing bolts 12S, 126 joining the end plates to the L-brackets permit the slide plate 12051 and the structure mounted on it to swing forwardly away from swinging bar 110. Adjustable stop pins 127 and 128 threaded through the end plates limit the travel of the below described reciprocating frame. Spacing roller 129 provides an initial rough adjustment and serves as a grip for lifting.

The reciprocating frame includes back plate 130, side plates 131 and 132 and a front connector plate 133. Slide block 134 is fastened to the rear of the back plate and slides in the channel formed by slides 121 and 122 on slide plate 126e. Air cylinder 135 having inlet and outlet connections 136, 137 is secured to the swinging 4bar and its piston rod 138 is connected to the right side plate 131. The travel of the frame may be varied by positioning the adjusting bolts 127 and 128.

A vertical air cylinder 149 having inlet and outlet connections 141, 142 is bolted to the front connector plate 13S by an intermediate base plate 143. The piston rod (not shown) is connected to rod extension 144 which moves a reciprocating subframe in slide ways 14S formed on the inside surface of the side plates. The subfrarne includes non-magnetic side bars 146 and 147, cross bar 1d@ and top plate 149 to which the rod extension 144 is connected. A pair of pole carrier arms 15d and 151 are bolted to the side bars 146, 147. Permanent magnet 153 is pinched between the pole carrier arms by bolt 152. Non-magnetic limit stops 154, 155 are mounted to the roller guide way 156 which in turn is fixed to the back plate 139. The limit stops 154, 155 and side bars 1416, 147 insulate the magnet 153.

Swinging Pump A pot and pump injection assembly is positioned to the rear of the back plate 12 as best shown in FIGURE 2.

The pot is indicated generally at 166 and contains a quantity of lead or other casting material whose level is indicated at 161.

An injection pump indicated generally at 162 is mounted on the back plate for swinging movement into and out of casting engagement with the dies. A yoke 163 having a trunnion shaft 164 is connected to and encircles cylinder 165 of the pump assembly. The trunnion shaft is received within apertures in trlunnion brackets 166 which in turn are connected to the back plate 12 to permit the pump assembly to rotate about the trunnion shafts as a pivot.

The pump structure consists of pump injection air cylinder 165 mounted on a spacer base 165a. An injection plunger 167 is received in a switch mounting sleeve 168 which is rigidly secured to the air cylinder 165. 'l'he spacer base is mounted on a water jacket 169 which cools the lower portion of the injection cylinder, and suitable water lines 17@ circulate cooling fluid through the jacket.

Pneumatic lines 171 and 172 actuate the pump piston, not shown in the drawings since it may be of conventional construction, to inject a charge of molten metal into the die cavity.

A support post or other suitable structural member 173 extends downwardly from a mounting block 174 secured to the water jacket. A pump housing 175 is secured to the lower end of the support post and a spacer block 176 closes the top of the housing. The pump plunger 167 extends through a spacer sleeve 177 and the spacer block 176. Inlet and outlet holes disposed well below the level of the lead in the pot serve as inlet and outlet ports for the molten casting material. The pump housing has been recessed as at 179 to provide a path for lead to flow out and air to iiow in and out.

An injection channel 196 is formed in the spacer block 176 and mates with a similar channel 191 in the support post which is aligned with delivery passage 192 in the nozzle 193. The nozzle terminates in a nozzle tip 194 which may be formed integrally with the nozzle or separately. It will be understood that during operation jets of flame may be directed at the nozzle, or the nozzle may be electrically heated to prevent freezing of the fluid metal in the delivery passage. In FlGURE 2, a resistance heater 195 is shown in a bore 196 which extends a substantial distance along the delivery passage.

The pump assembly is rotated about the trunnion shafts 164 by an air cylinder assembly indicated generally at 20h. A piston rod 201 is connected to a clevis 202 which in turn is pivotally connected to a connector clevis 263 secured to the top of the switch mounting sleeve 16S.

Control Mechanism The control mech-anism which coordinates the operation of the toggle mechanism, insert placement mechanism, pump assembly, and knock out is shown best in FIGURES 1 and 4. Although a preferred embodiment has -been illustrated it will be understood that there are many other variations possible and accordingly the disclosure should be regarded as exemplary only.

A series of limit switches numbered consecutively from LS-1 through LS-l are located along the outer edges of the machine base 10. Limit switches LS-l through LS-7 are actuated by a cam carrier rod 211 journalled in bearing blocks 212 and 213 and reciprocated by left wing plate 214 connected to the left rear portion of the carriage block. Right wing plate 214g carries adjustable contact 237 which actuates LSw'S. A strut 215 (FIGURE 3) rigidly connects the carrier rod to wing plate 214 to correlate the movement of the carrier rod to the carriage block.

LS-l is a vertical clip switch which is normally open. This switch actuates air cylinder 140 to provide vertical clip motion, and is actuated by cam 216 on the cam carrier rod.

LS-2 is a timer start switch which is maintained normally open. This switch starts a timer when the mold cams lock up which prevents injection and retracts the carriage if injection does not occur in a preset time. When the mold locking earn 58 passes the cam roller 7), the sliding surface portion 58a rotates about mounting bracket 60 and engages push rod 217 mounted in bracket 218 on the cross plate 17.

LS-3 controls the horizontal motion of the insert in the placement mechanism. It is normally open but, when closed by cam 219 it actuates air cylinder 135 which moves the sliding frame horizontally.

LS-4 controls the return motion of the carriage block and is normally open.

LS-5 is the normally open knockout switch. When its control cam 220 actuates the switch (assuming that the pump plunger is in its retracted position), air pressure is admitted to the knockout cylinder 80 which actuates knockout pin 85 to eject the solidified sprue.

LS-6 is a normally closed rejection switch. lf there is no clip in the die cavity at the time the cam stop collar 221 passes the switch, the main machine circuit is broken, the mold opens and the cycle is started over.

LS-7 is a normally open clip locator switch and is actuated by the adjustable sliding cam 222. Adjustment of this cam particularly and the air speed controls are rather critical, but by proper adjustment all movements can be easily coordinated.

LS-S is the normally open lead firing switch.l lf a clip has been properly located in the mold cavity and the mold cams have locked up, this switch which is actuated by adjustable contact 237 carried on wing plate 214a and electro-mechanical linkage 238, 239, admits air to the pump injection cylinder 165 to reciprocate plunger 167.

LS-9 is a normally open pump safety switch. A clip must be in the machine before this switch is closed so that injection of lead without a properly oriented clip in 6 place is impossible. This is essentially a double safety feature and electrically would normally be in series with LS-S.

LS-9 is actuated by a push rod 223 which passes through a pair of brackets 224 and 225 bolted to the base block 84. The left end of push rod 223 engages a pivoted arm 225a on the guide block 27 and is restricted in a clockwise direction but is rotatable clockwise to impinge upon the end of the push rod 223. Arm 225a is actuated by an adjustable bolt 226 carried by an L-shaped arm 227 welded to a stub arm 228 which in turn is secured to a push rod 229 shown best in FIGURE 3.

LS-ltl is a normally open clip safety switch and closes when a clip is placed in the mold. This switch would generally be in parallel with LS-G. After the clip placement mechanism has initially positioned a clip in the cavity, air cylinder 230 moves push rod 229 to the right as viewed in FIGURE 3. As the rod moves towards the right, its leading edge hits the clip and pushes it against the safety block 231 connected to a holder 232 which actuates LS-10 through a linkage mechanism 233 (FIG- URE 1).

LS-11 is mounted near the top of the back plate 12 `and actuated by push rod 234 which is rigidly connected to a slide rod 235 mounted on the switch mounting sleeve 168. Slide rod 235 is formed with a hook or reversed curve 236 at its upper end so as to make contact with LS-12 which will be described hereinafter. LS-12 signals when the pump is back to normal position, away from injection position. So long as the plunger is out of contact with rod 235, actuation of LS-S will be held oli thus preventing operation of the ejector mechanism while pres-sure is maintained on the metal in the nozzle.

LS-12, which is actuated by the up return of the plunger, regulates admission of air to cylinder 200 to tilt the pump assembly away from injection position and into the full line position of FIGURE 2. There is thus no pressure on the load when the nozzle swings away from the mold.

A suitable electric circuit may be connected into the system to actuate solenoid valves in the air lines leading to the operating air cylinders. Since the design of the electrical system is conventional it has not been illustrated in detail.

The use and operation of the invention is as follows:

The cycle begins with the pump assembly in the solid line position of FIGURE 2 and the toggle mechanism in the position of FIGURE l. As air is admitted to power cylinder 51, piston rod56 moves to the right, or forwardly, to bring block 31 into engagement with dies 21 and 22. Since the movement of the mold locking cams S8 and 59 is confined by the toggle slide blocks 66 and 67 to alinear direction, the carriage block will move at the same speed as the piston 56 initially. As the carriage block moves rearwardly the cam carrier control rod 211 is carried with it by wing plate 214 and strut member 215.

Near the end of piston travel, the mold locking cams move outwardly about the mounting brackets 60 and 61 when the rear abutment surfaces of the cams pass the cam rollers 70 and 71. As mold locking cam 5S pivots, it engages push rod 217 which actuates LS-2 and starts the master timer. Unless the sequence of operations is carried out in a predetermined, preset time, the timer will time out, a contact in the main power circuit will open, the die block will retract without actuating the lead tiring switch, and the cycle will begin over.

As the die block advances rearwardly, the cam tracks 41a and 42a in cams 41 and 42 engage downwardly depending cam rollers on the outwardly extending portions of the dies. The cam tracks are socontoured that the rear dies will slide transversely toward one another and into engagement at least by the time the front die engages the rear dies.

While the front die is moving rearwardly, the feeder act/ases mechanism has been actuated to feed properly oriented clips down the clip slide 91 in readiness for placement in the cavity.

The permanent magnet pole carrier arms 159, 151 are normally positioned immediately above clip C in FIG- URE 3. The attraction of the magnet picks up the clip and air cylinder 135 moves the reciprocating frame of FIGURE 6 to the right as viewed in FGURE l (to the left as viewed in FGURE until it is in line with the position it will eventually occupy in the mold cavity. The travel or" the frame is regulated by adju ment of stop bolt l2'7. LS-l then actuates air cylinder ldtl which pushes the clip downward into position in the mold. Initial placement is slightly to the left of dead center as viewed in FGURE 3. After placing the clip on the jaws, piston rod 144 retracts and the reciprocating frame moves to the left as viewed in FEGURE l in readiness for the next shot.

Air cylinder 230 is then actuated by LS-7 and moves push rod 2.29 to the right as viewed in FIGURE 3 until it contacts the clip and presses it against the safety block 231. Movement of the safety block, safety holder 232 and linkage mechanism 233 to the right actuates LS-lt which closes a switch in the rejection circuit of LS-6 and permits lead injection. When a clip is properly positioned air cylinder assembly 152 is actuated to rotate the pump assembly from the solid line position of FlG- URE 2 to the dotted line position and injection plunger 67 tires a shot of lead into the die cavities.

After completion of the injection stroke of the pump plunger 5.67, the pump assembly tilts rearwardly to break the contact of nozzle tip 194 with the back jaws. The amount of movement has been exaggerated in FIGURE 2 for purposes of illustration. Actually, the pump need tilt only 1/2 inch to 5A; inch to avoid excessive heat transfer.

As the pump assembly tilts rearwardly, the carriage 36 retracts pulling the cams rtl, 42 with it. The cam followers slide in the channels 41a, 42a, and move the back jaws sideways near the end of the retracting movement of the carriage. As the jaws move sideways, cutting edges 2G51 and 20h shear the sprue.

Usually the sprue then drops downwardly to a sprue bin or onto a slideway which automatically returns them to the pot. Occasionally however, the sheared sprue will stick in one of the jaws and, unless removed, will form a plug when the jaws next engage. To eliminate this possibility, knockout arm S5 moves downwardly when the jaws reach the FlGURE 3 position to dislodge the stuck sprue.

As soon as the cavity is cleared, the operation is repeated.

Various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, a sprue pin extending the length of one of the movable jaws may be utilized as in copending application Serial No. 780,718, tiled December 18, 1958, now abandoned, and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. In this variation, the tip end of the sprue pin or gate holding rod terminates in the surface of that half of the gate formed in the sprue pin jaw. By center punching the surface of the gate, the sprue will stay in the jaw and the pin then strips the sprue from the jaw as the jaw retracts.

The foregoing description is illustrative only and not detinitive. Accordingly the invention should not be limited except by the scope of the following appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a device for forming composite articles, a mold assembly including relatively movable mold parts and means for imparting-relative opening and closing movement to them, a container for molten metal, a pump assembly positioned in and movable bodily in relation to said molten metal, said pump assembly having a molten metal discharge outlet located vabove the level of the molten metal in the container at all times, means for positioning a solid component in the space surrounded by the mold parts for investment in molten metal, means for moving the pump assembly into engagement with the mold assembly before each charge of molten metal is injected into the mold .and for moving the pump assembly out of engagement with the mold assembly after each injection, means for delivering molten metal from the pump assembly to the space within the mold parts and about the component to be invested, means for controlling the relative movement of such mold parts in predetermined relation to the bodily movement of the pump assembly in the molten metal, said solid component positioning means including a slideway positioned to gravitally deliver a solid component to an initial position adjacent the mold assembly, a mechanical escapement mechanism constructed and arranged to enable one insert at a time to be released for gravital movement down the slideway, a final insert placement mechanism for transferring an insert from its initial position to a nal position in the mold assembly, and means for coordinating operation of the mechanical escapernent mechanism, final insert placement mechanism and the pump assembly, said coordinating means being ellective to permit a succeeding operation to occur only upon the successful conclusion or" the preceding operation.

2. The device of claim 1 further characterized in that the mechanical escapernent mechanism is fluid operated.

3. The device of claim l further characterized by and including an air booster operable in timed relation to the mechanical escapement mechanism and etiective to aid passage of an insert down the slideway.

4. The device of claim 1 further characterized in that the final insert placement mechanism includes magnetic means for placing an insert in its nal position in the mold assembly.

5. In combination in a positive `displacement die casting machine,

a mold assembly including relatively movable mold members,

means for imparting relative opening and closing movement to the mold members,

means for cooling the mold members,

a container for molten metal,

supporting structure for maintaining the container stationary,

a pump assembly positioned in the molten metal and `bodily tiltable in relation to the stationary container and the molten metal therein,

said pump assembly having a discharge nozzle located above the level of the molten metal in the container at all times and i an inlet located below the level of the molten metal in the container at all times,

said pump assembly further including a charging chamber having an outlet inV communication with the discharge nozzle, said inlet opening into the charging chamber,

said charging chamber having an injection piston therein reciprocable between the chamber inlet and charnber outlet to thereby positively inject molten metal through the discharge nozzle and into the mold assembly,

said charging chamber, and its inlet and outlet, being located below the surface of the molten metal at all times,

means for tilting the pump 'assembly into casting engagement with the mold assembly before each injection of molten metal, and for tilting the pump assembly out of casting engagement with the mold assembly after each injection a distance suiiicient to provide a short air gap between the d-ischarge nozzle and mold assembly to thereby insulate the mold assembly from the discharge nozzle,

and means for kactuating the pump piston to inject a charge of molten metal into the mold assembly only when the pump assembly is in casting engagement with the mold assembly.

6. The positive displacement type die casting machine of claim 5 further characterized in that the pump assembly tilting means moves the pump assembly a distance on the order of about 1/2 inch to 5% inch.

Morris et a1. Apr. 29, 1930 Kidd July 21, 1931 10 Norgren Ian. 3, Rohn Jan. 24, Lester May 9, Korsmo Aug. 8, Korsmo Aug. 22, Heinicke Iuly 3, Venus Nov. 25, McGrevey Sept. 13, Stern Mar. 26, Powell Feb. 4, Paschold July 15, Peterson et al May 19, 

1. IN A DEVICE FOR FORMING COMPOSITE ARTICLES, A MOLD ASSEMBLY INCLUDING RELATIVELY MOVABLE MOLD PARTS AND MEANS FOR IMPARTING RELATIVE OPENING AND CLOSING MOVEMENT TO THEM, A CONTAINER FOR MOLTEN METAL, A PUMP ASSEMBLY POSITIONED IN AND MOVABLE BODILY IN RELATION TO SAID MOLTEN METAL, SAID PUMP ASSEMBLY HAVING A MOLTEN METAL DISCHARGE OUTLET LOCATED ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE MOLTEN METAL IN THE CONTAINER AT ALL TIMES, MEANS FOR POSITIONING A SOLID COMPONENT IN THE SPACE SURROUNDED BY THE MOLD PARTS FOR INVESTMENT IN MOLTEN METAL, MEANS FOR MOVING THE PUMP ASSEMBLY INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE MOLD ASSEMBLY BEFORE EACH CHARGE OF MOLTEN METAL IS INJECTED INTO THE MOLD AND FOR MOVING THE PUMP ASSEMBLY OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE MOLD ASSEMBLY AFTER EACH INJECTION, MEANS FOR DELIVERING MOLTEN METAL FROM THE PUMP ASSEMBLY TO THE SPACE WITHIN THE MOLD PARTS AND ABOUT THE COMPONENT TO BE INVESTED, MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF SUCH MOLD PARTS IN PREDETERMINED RELATION TO THE BODILY MOVEMENT OF THE PUMP ASSEMBLY IN THE MOLTEN METAL, SAID SOLID COMPONENT POSITIONING MEANS INCLUDING A SLIDEWAY POSITIONED TO GRAVITALLY DELIVER A SOLID COMPONENT TO AN INITIAL POSITION ADJACENT THE MOLD ASSEMBLY, A MECHANICAL ESCAPEMENT MECHANISM CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED TO ENABLE ONE INSERT AT A TIME TO BE RELEASED FOR GRAVITAL MOVEMENT DOWN THE SLIDEWAY, A FINAL INSERT PLACEMENT MECHANISM FOR TRANSFERRING AN INSERT FROM ITS INITIAL POSITION TO A FINAL POSITION IN THE MOLD ASSEMBLY, AND MEANS FOR COORDINATING OPERATION OF THE MECHANICAL ESCAPEMENT MECHANISM, FINAL INSERT PLACEMENT MECHANISM AND THE PUMP ASSEMBLY, SAID COORDINATING MEANS BEING EFFECTIVE TO PERMIT A SUCCEEDING OPERATION TO OCCUR ONLY UPON THE SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF THE PRECEDING OPERATION. 